Ascension Medical Group Via Christi pulmonologists offering minimally invasive emphysema treatment
Six months ago, pulmonologists Abdel-Ghanie Abu-Samra, MD, and Youssef Yammine, MD, with Ascension Medical Group Via Christi, began offering Zephyr valve, a minimally invasive procedure, as a treatment option for patients with severe emphysema. Their colleague, Raid Abu-Awwad, MD, is now performing the procedure as well.
Zephyr valves provide an option for patients between medication therapy and surgery. The valves are placed by bronchoscopy, so they require no incisions or cutting. The procedure typically is performed as an outpatient procedure and takes less than an hour to complete.
"It is another tool that we have to offer patients to help them breathe easier and have an improved quality of daily life," says Dr. Abu-Samra about the procedure being performed in one of the operating rooms at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.
The Zephyr valve reduces lung hyperinflation by allowing the trapped air to escape and preventing new air from entering the diseased lobe. This allows the healthier parts of the lung to function better, helping patients breathe more easily, without many of the risks of traditional surgical options.
Candidates for Zephyr valves are patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of severe emphysema, feel breathless even when taking medication as directed, and do not smoke or are willing to quit.
Zephyr valves often are covered by insurance for patients who qualify based on diagnostic tests.
For more information or to schedule a consultation to see if you are a candidate, call 316-274-8325.
To find a pulmonologist at Ascension Via Christi, click here.
Last updated: November 22, 2022